Bobby Abreu improbably returned to his longtime team. Why can't these guys do the same?

Since the 1998 realignment—and by the way, it's always nice when your arbitrary endpoint stat starts being interesting in 1947, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1995 or 1998 so you can disguise its arbitrariness—only one National League team has had three position players compile 40-plus wins above replacement (full list here). And now Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and yes, Bobby Abreu are together again in Philadelphia, making this one of the more notable reunions for nostalgia's sake, if not any 2014 on-field impact.

Abreu signed a minor league deal with the Phillies this week and managed to avoid most of the snark that usually accompanies such signings of old players. For one thing, even though we're sometimes bad at this (see Young, Delmon) it was just a minor league deal. Also, the Phillies' standard in the public eye for their old signings is low enough that this one looks okay by comparison, and their outfield had a hole to fill. Mostly, I think, it's that unlike Young and some of the other aged relics, Abreu is somebody we actually like.

That news comes straight from the horse’s mouth, as general manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters on Wednesday, “it’s going to be a good, healthy competition.” Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle relayed the quotes, and noted in a subsequent tweet that the spring training battle could be a five-way race.

Leury Garcia, INF, White Sox (Gigantes del Cibao, DWL): 1-3. Garcia probably won’t hit enough to play every day and has virtually no power to speak of, but his versatility could make him a solid utility man, perhaps as soon as this year. He’s been playing all over the infield in the Dominican this winter and has the tools to play multiple middle-of-the-diamond positions at the major-league level.

Opening Day 2013 is fewer than four weeks away. That means the time to talk about free agents is behind us. Even when the spotlight does turn to those remaining unemployed players it tends to hover on Kyle Lohse and Jose Valverde. Yet there are numerous other notable players still available. Let's take a look at a few of their situations.

Bobby AbreuLatest MLB Trade Rumors mention:2/15, "The Orioles may consider signing outfielder Bobby Abreu, but first plan to 'see what they have in camp.'"